Method of casting universal joints



Nov. 14, 1950 J. BARBER 2,529,586

METHOD OF CASTING UNIVERSAL JOINTS Filed April 3, 1945 Sheets-Sheet lLNJ J55: B/i/PBER 3nventor J 5 (Zttorneg Nov, 114, 1950 J. BARBER METHODOF CASTING UNIVERSAL JOINTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhmentor- JESSE B/IRBEEFiled April 3, 1945 NQVO 114, 1195'@ J, BARBER 2,529,586

METHOD OF CASTING UNIVERSAL JOINTS Filed April 3, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 32/5555 EHEBHF Zinnentor Patented Nov. 14, 1 950 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE- METHOD OF CASTING UNIVERSAL JOINTS Jesse Barber, Spokane, Wash.

Application April 3, 1945, Serial No. 586,368

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved method of casting universaljoints, wherein the bilobar metallic joint members are precast, and thenemployed as solid cores in molding and casting the articular spiderwhich thus connects these two joint members.

While the joint or coupling of the invention may be utilized forconnecting adjoining shaft ends of various types and purposes, it isespecially adapted as equipment for wheeled agricultural implements,such as sub-soil weeders. Weeders of this type employ a rotary weedingrod or shaft, angular in cross-section, which travels below the groundsurface, and the weeding rod is provided with the universal joint. Thecoupling or joint also rotates and travels beneath the ground surface,and therefore its contour must be smooth, and free from obstructionsthat would create undue friction and retard the advancing movement ofthe weeder. The joint or coupling, for effective use, must also be freefrom unnecessary exterior voids in order to exclude accumulations ofsub-soil that would interfere with the transmission of power through thecoupled sections of the rotary weeder rod.

These desirable results are attained in the novel method of molding andcasting and thus conheating the three joint members, including thespaced socketed fittings mounted upon the adjoining shaft-ends and theintermediate spider that connects these bilobar members.

In the accompanying drawings one example of the physical embodiment ofthe universal joint, and the steps employed in the method of molding andcasting the joint, are illustrated and demonstrated; but it will beunderstood that changes may be made in these exemplifying drawings,within the scope of my appended claims without departin from theprinciples of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side view of the universal joint of my invention; Figure 2is a view at the right end of Fig, 1; Figure 3 is a view of theconnecting spider, detached; and Figure 4 is another view of thearticular spider in a plane turned ninety degrees from that of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a mold or press, including acore box containing a precast or solid bilobar joint member, a rotatablyadjustable and reciprocable die plate or head, and indicating an ejectorfor the joint member; and Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, butturned into a plane at ninety degrees to the plane of Fig. 5.

Fi ure 7 is a face view of the die plate; Figure 2 8 is a side View ofthe die-plate; and Figure 9 is a front View of the die-"plate.

Figure 10 is an elevation of the core box of Fig. 5; and Figure 11 is ahorizontal sectional. view of the core box'at line lI--ll of Fig-10,showing also the outer socket end of one of the joint members. Figure 12is a view of a cleanout pin used in molding. Figures 13 and'l l'areviews of a pattern employed to form a bed in a flask for a bilobar jointmember. Figure 15 is a sectional View through a mold-box showing theparts in position for pouring the molten metal.

As indicated in Figures 1 through 4; the uni' versal joint or flexiblecoupling includes the two bilobar socketed joint members I and 2, eachhaving a rectangular socket at its outer end for the reception andattachment of the complementary ends of a sectional rotary member orshaft. The joint members are fashioned with pairs of perforated ears orlobes 3 and 4, provided with bearing holes 5, and as usual the fourlobes are circumferentially arranged at ninety degree intervals aboutthe axial line of the joint.

The joint members are connected by the intermediate, articulate spider,which includes a central hub 6, and four diametrically arranged, radial,trunnions arranged in pairs as I, 1, and 8, 8. As indicated in Figs. 3and 4, the rounded hub member or head 6 of the spider or connectingframe is slightly elongated along the line of the axis of rotation ofthe joint, and the four trunnions integral with the hub, projectradially from the shorter diameter of the hub. The linearly elongatedhub is thus arranged with its ends projecting beyond the tip ends of thelobes 3, 3 and 4, 4, to reduce the size of the spaces between the huband the joint members, and to provide a rotating part that Works thesoil and, prevents an accumulation of soil in the spaces between theinner Walls of the sockets and the' hub.

As indicated in Fig, 2, the outer arcuate or segmental surf-aces of thefour lobes 3, 3, and 4, 4, provide an annular surface, with fourslight-interruptions or narrow openings that insure a smooth rotarymotion of the joint, and reduce to a minimum any collections of soilthat would cause clogging as the rotating joint advances through thesub-soil.

In the casting operation, as the molten metalcomes in contact with thecold metal of the lobes, the molten metal forming the four lobes, is;slightly chilled, thereby contracting the trun-r nions-as they are castin the bearing holes 5 of, .the lobes, thus. freeing the trunnions.intheir;

3 bearings for effective action of the articulated joint between the twojoint members.

In the present method of manufacturing the universal joint the two jointmembers I and 2 are precast, and these members are mounted in separatecore boxes of like form and size together with tamped green sand, toform the sectional matrix in which the molten metal is poured to formthe hub and trunnions of the connecting spider or intermediate frame.

As seen in Fig. the precast joint member I is fitted in a core box 9,which by its attaching flange may be fixed to a table top or bench, withthe two lobes 3, 3, of the joint member projecting above the upper openend of the core box, and the upper edge of the core box is fashionedwith two pairs of diametrically arranged seats [0, ID,

and II, II, in the nature of half round radially extending grooves.

These radial grooves l0, l0, and II, II, conform to four diametricallyarranged half round grooves l2, l2, and l3, 13, arranged in pairs andformed in the face of a die-plate M, which is mounted to reciprocateabove the loaded core box. An alined pair of half round grooves 10,together with a complementary alined pair of grooves 12, form twocylindrical radial open end cavities co-axial with the two alinedbearing holes 5 of the two lobes 3, 3. Green sand, indicated at S, istamped lightly in the upper part of the core box, between the lobes 3,3, and around the lobes, to form a bed, below the upper edge of the corebox.

In addition to the four intersecting half round grooves I2, 12, and l3,l3 in the face of the dieplate 14, the latter is fashioned with acentral protruding, hub-forming boss l5; two laterally spacedlobe-forming bosses I 6, l6 arranged diametrically of the boss [5; andtwo laterally spaced, diametrically arranged lobe-receiving recesses l1,I1 into which the lobes 3, 3, project as the die-plate is pressed downupon the sanded core box, which contains the joint member I.

The die-plate M may be depressed on its working stroke through the useof a vertical shaft I8 that is mounted in a tubular presser l9, and thelatter may be reciprocated vertically in any suitable manner. Forsuccessive use of the die 'plate 14, it may be turned through an arc ofninety degrees by the handle 20 in co-action with the pin and slotconnection 2l22 between the shaft l8 and the tubular presser 19.

By the pressing action of the die plate, it will be apparent that ahalf-matrix, or the section of a matrix, may be formed with a centraldepression 23 in the sand core of Fig. 5 that is intercepted by theholes 5 of the lobes 3, 3, and this depression provides one-half of themold for the hub 6 of the spider or articular frame of the joint.

By means of a vertically reciprocable ejector 24 that is elevated insuitable manner, this completed half of the casting mold may be pushedupwardly and then withdrawn from the core box 9, after the die-plate hasbeen elevated from its working stroke.

The solid cylindrical clean-out pin 25 of Fig. 12 may be run through thecylindrical parts -42 of Fig. 5 and through the previously reamedbearing holes 5 of the lobes 3, 3.

Inasmuch as the two joint members I and 2 are duplicates, a pair may beprepared in thesame core box 9, as indicated in Fig, 5; or, the

second member 2 of a pair may be prepared as a mold in another core box9, which is identical with the first core box. Figure 6 shows the samecore box and die-plate as Figure 5, but the View is at right angles tothe view in Figure 5.

In order to insure accuracy in placing the joint members in the core boxfor casting, a split pattern 26, shown in Figs. 13 and 14, is employedin fashioning the sand bed.

By the use of the press or presses, the two joint members are thusprepared and adapted to be assembled in opposed axial alinement to forma sectional matrix in which the hub of the spider frame is to be cast,and the apertures in the intermeshing lobes are open to the hub cavities23 to form four radial extensions of the cavity, or matrix.

The two pressed joint members are now set or assembled in a suitablesectional mold, or moldbox including a drag and a cope and provided withthe usual sprue hole or ingate for the molten metal. As shown in Figure15 the two members I and 2 are axially aligned and the lobe apertures 5in the two members are aligned in a plane at right angles to the axis ofthe members I and 2 when the members are positioned in the sectionalmold for pouring the molten metal. The complementary cavities 23 of thematrix receive the molten metal to form the hub of the spider frame, andthe four apertures of the lobes receive the molten metal to form theseveral integral trunnions.

By contact with the cold metallic lobes, the molten metal flowing intothe apertures is chilled, hardened, and slightly contracted in volume,to form the several trunnions. When the casting has cooled the trunnionsare thus fitted in the apertures to form journal bearings having thenecessary clearance for freedom of action of the joint,

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of casting an articular frame including a hub and fourradial trunnions, which consists in assembling a pair of universal jointmembers each having a pair of lobes fashioned with apertures in sandmold sections that cover all surfaces of the members except the surfacesdefining said apertures and thereby forming a sectional matrix for thehub in communication with the apertures in the lobes, pouring moltenmetal into said matrix and apertures, and cooling the molten metal.

2. The method of connecting a pair of universal joint members eachhaving a pair of lobes provided with trunnion receiving apertures by anintegral hub and trunnion member having a radial trumiion in eachaperture which includes the following steps; pressing a sand core intothe space between the lobes of each of the bilobar members to a levelbelow the lobe apertures, assembling the two members with the lobeapertures aligned and embedding the assembly in sand, thereby forming acavity in sand for the hub portion, with the apertures in the lobes opento said cavity and filling the cavity and apertures with molten metal.

3. The method of making universal joints which comprises, providing twobilobar apertured joint members with complementary hollowed out coresbetween the lobes thereof and assembling the two members in asand moldin axial alignment with the apertures in the lobes in communication withthe space provided between the hollowed out portions of the cores andpouring molten metal into the space, thereby filling the 5 space and.the apertures in the lobe to provide integral trunnions and a hub as thesole interconnecting means between the bilobar joint members.

JESSE BARBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 336,458 Weber Feb. 16, 1886Number 0 Number

